Collapsible basket.



E. DAY.

COLLAPSiBLE BASKET.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 1914.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

XW WW- EDWARD J, DAY, 01E MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO OTTO H.

SGHULZE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN. v

COLLA'PSIBLE BASKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A110. 3, 1915.

Application filedMarch 2, 1914. Serial 110,821,918.

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. DAY, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collapsible Baskets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip-v tion thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and effective wire frame collapsible basket, the invention consisting in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings and subsequently claimed.-

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a central sectional elevation of a basket embodying the features of my invention, the section being indicated by line 11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a cross-section of the same, the section being indicated by line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detailed plan View of one corner of the basket showing the construction of bottom frame, indicated by line 33 of Figs. 1 and 2, and Fig. 4, a detailed sectional view showing a portion of the rim frame and its connections, the sectionbeing indicated by line 4-4: of Fig. 2.

Referring by characters to the drawings, 1, 1, represent the longitudinal stretches of a rectangular rim frame, the saidstretches' being merged into end stretches 2. The longitudinal stretches are each provided with spirally wound loops 1 constituting eyes for bails 3. The said longitudinal stretches 1 are also centrally cross-connected by a pair of transverse brace-bars 4, 4, to which brace-bars are hingedly secured U- shaped lid frames 5, the same being covered by a sheathing 6 of fabric or other suitable material. The bottom of the basket is formed by a rectangular bottom frame having longitudinal stretches 7 connected by transverse stretches 7 as shown and connecting said transverse stretches is a longitudinal stay-bar 8, which stay-bar is secured by looped heads that overlap the stretches 7, the said stay-bar being centrally disposed relative to the side stretches of the bottom frame. The transverse stretches 2 of the rim frame have hingedly connected thereto U-shaped end frames, the vertical stretches 9 of which are connected by transverse stretches 9, which bottom stretches, as best shown in Fig. 2, are bowed downwardly in opposite directions from an imaginary cen; tral line. The apex of the bow is adapted toengage the longitudinal stay-bar 8 of the bottom frame when the end frames are dlstended or swung to a position for expanding the basket into shape for loading. Thus the bottom stretches 9 of the end frame 9 constitute flexible stretchers and, owing to the fact that there is slight spring in the metal, the frictional engagement between the bottom stretches 9 and longitudinal stay-rod 8 is suficient to hold the frame in its distended position. It is understood that the heads of the stay-bars 8 form stops for the bowed bottom stretches of the end frames when said frames are distended. The rim frame and bottom frame are incased in a sheathing 10 forming the bottom, side and end walls of the basket, the said sheathmg being preferably formed from some porous material such as cotton, silk, canvas or any woven cloth. It is understood, how ever, that in some instances the sheathing maybe composed of waterproof material. 5

From the foregoing description it is 0bvione that when the basket is not in use, it can be folded into a fiat, compact body so as to be conveniently carried, the folding being obtained by swinging the free end members of the frame upwardly toward the rim member, which end members are adapted to fold one within the other, as best shown in dotted lines. Thereafter the bottom frame member is nested. against the rim frame member with the sheathing material folded inwardly. These baskets may be of any desired dimensions and may be used for various purposes such as, for example, lunch baskets, or they may be utilized as package retainers for the convenience of shoppers or for marketing or any other purpose to which such devices are applicable.

I claim:

1. A wire frame collapsible basket comprising a rectangular rim frame and a rectangular bottom frame, a centrally disposed stay-bar having heads connecting the transverse stretches of the bottom frame, U- shaped end frames in hinge connection with i the transverse stretches of the rim frame,

the free transverse bottom stretches of said end frames being bowed upwardly and adapted to yieldingly engage the stay-bar to constitute stretches when the basket is V :Copiesiof this patent may be obtained for distended, movement of the bowed portions being limited by the stay-bar heads, and a flexible sheathing for the bottom, side and ends of the frame, the sheathing bein'g'secured to the rim frame member.

2. A wire frame collapsible basket com prising a rim member having side stretches bent upon themselves to form companion loops, a rectangular bottom frame, a centrally disposed longitudinal stay-bar con necting the transverse stretches of said bottom frame, U-shaped end frames in hinge connection with the transverse stretches of the rim frame, the free transverse stretches of the 'end frames being bowed'upwardly for engagement with the stay-bar to constitute stretches when the basket is distended,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

Geo. W; YOUNG, V M; El DOWNEY.

five cents each, by ad dressing the Commissioner of- Batnts, Washington, D. G. Y

' 1 E RD J. DAY, f 

